WIC (Women, Infants, & Children)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded program. Its emphasis is on nutrition education primarily targeting low-income families with pregnant, breast-feeding and postpartum women; infants and children up to age five and at nutritional risk.

Other benefits include referrals for other health/social services and a food prescription. The food prescription is a set of selected foods in specific quantities appropriate for the individual based on nutritional risk. These prescriptions are redeemable at authorized retail grocers. Food prescriptions for infants are redeemed at the WIC Office, by direct distribution of infant formulas, infant cereals and juices. Food Prescription (voucher) Issuance Schedule WIC staff go to each community for issuance of food prescriptions every other month and issue two months worth of prescriptions. Participants can check with the WIC Office to determine the date, location and time of issuance in their community.

Coordination with Other Services

While WIC is not a direct service sponsored by the Choctaw Health Department, the WIC Office is conveniently located in a trailer next to the Women's Wellness Center. The two programs coordinate for the convenience of clients who need the services of both. Other health services and programs are also within a short walking distance. The idea of the one-stop-shopping concept is in practice here.

Locations to Apply for WIC

Persons interested may fill out an application form at the following locations:

Choctaw Health Center/Women's Wellness Center

Conehatta Clinic

Bogue Chitto Clinic

Red Water Clinic

WIC Office

Eligibility

All applicants must meet three criteria in order to be certified eligible for WIC:

All applicants must pass an income eligibility determination. Individuals at or below the 185 percent of the Federal Income for Poverty Guidelines are eligible. Income documentation will be required. Applicants need to bring check stubs for all family members earning income in the household. Applicants providing proof of participation on Medicaid, Food Stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are adjunctively eligible. Those providing proof as participants on FDPRI (Tribal Food Distribution Program) or receive SSI are automatically income eligible.

Being income eligible is not enough to be certified for WIC. The applicant must also be at nutritional risk. Getting a blood sample, weight and height, and a diet assessment from the applicant helps make a determination of nutritional risk. Current or existing medical condition(s), such as gestational diabetes, failure to thrive, anemia, etc., that is impacted by diet will be factors in determining eligibility.

Some form of personal identification is also required: driver's license and Tribal ID card or a corrected CHC Patient Registration F.A.C.E. Sheet.